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The second edition of Dubai AI Festival to take place on 23 and 24 April 2025 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai

• As a significant part of Dubai AI Week, the event will reinforce Dubai’s commitment to AI-driven innovation and economic growth

• The Festival is expected to attract 8,000+ industry experts, 500+ investors, 100+ speakers, 100+ exhibitors from over 100 countries, and featuring 30+ roundtables and workshops

Dubai, UAE, 20th March 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, Building on the success of the inaugural edition, the Dubai AI Festival returns in 2025 to further demonstrate Dubai’s standing as a global leader in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Held under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, UAE, the event will take place on 23 and 24 April 2025 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. The Festival is organised by Dubai AI Campus, in partnership with DIFC, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Economy & Remote Work Applications Office to explore AI’s transformative impact across industries.

As a significant event in Dubai AI Week, which was launched under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Festival will bring together global AI leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore advancements, investment opportunities, and regulatory frameworks shaping the future of AI.

AI is set to transform the global economy, with recent reports projecting a USD 15.7trn contribution by 2030, including USD 320bn in the Middle East. By 2033, the UAE’s AI market is projected to reach USD 46.33bn, while the machine learning market is expected to grow to USD 2.41bn. Experts predict over 80 per cent of enterprises will integrate AI-driven decision-making by 2026. Moreover, Dubai AI Campus is projected to grow beyond 100,000 square feet, host over 500 companies, create more than 3,000 jobs, and attract USD300 million in investments by 2028.

This year, key themes of the Dubai AI Festival include responsible AI deployment, transparency, and the future of work. Attendees will gain insights into AI’s impact while tackling the ethical challenges of its rapid integration.

His Excellency Arif Amiri, Chief Executive Officer of DIFC Authority, said: “DIFC is delighted to be presenting one of the most significant events as part of Dubai AI Week and reflects our commitment to cement the city’s position as a global leader for technology, as well as enable future focused industries to harness the transformative power of AI. As adoption accelerates, the Dubai AI Festival will serve as the key platform for accelerating responsible and effective AI implementation across business, government, and society.”

Aligned with Dubai’s vision for innovation and economic growth, Dubai AI Festival will bring together 8,000+ industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from 100+ countries to drive collaboration and investment in AI and emerging technologies.

The event will also include a dynamic exhibition, featuring cutting-edge AI innovations, alongside a start-up showcase where emerging companies will pitch their solutions to investors. The FutureTech World Cup, will showcase top AI start-ups, connecting innovators with investors seeking the next big breakthrough. Additionally, the Global FutureTech Innovation Programme will discover the brightest young minds from around the world harnessing AI to tackle real-world challenges. This combination of exhibitions, discussions, and competitions will drive collaboration and investment in the next wave of AI innovation.

Registrations for Dubai AI Festival are now open. For more details, visit: https://dubaiaifestival.com/.

Key speakers

• H.E. Essa Kazim, Governor, DIFC

• H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy & Remote Work Applications, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office, United Arab Emirates.

• Werner Vogels, Global VP & CTO, Amazon.

• Parminder Bhatia, Chief AI Officer, GE HealthCare.

• Bhavish Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, Ola.

• Ronnie Sheth, CEO, SENEN GROUP.

• Scott Harden, Global Chief Technology Officer, Global Innovation, Schneider Electric Innovation.

• Thomas Pramotedham, CEO, Presight AI.

• Hasan Fardan Al Fardan, Chief Executive Officer, Al Fardan Exchange.

• Dr. Anirudh Devgan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cadence Design Systems.

• Dr. Amr Awadallah, Chief Executive Officer, Vectara.

• Nigel Toon, CEO, Chairman and Co-Founder, Graphcore.

• H.E. Salem Humaid Al Marri, Director General, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Dubai, UAE.

• Daniel Hulme, Chief AI Officer, WPP.

Dubai AI Festival Themes

• AI for All: Everyday, Everywhere

• Global AI Governance

• Immersive Experience

• Innovation & Ethics

• Future of Work

• AI Cornerstone

• AI Literacy

• Infrastructure & Investment

Sponsors and partners:

• Dubai Future Foundation and DAMAC as Co-Hosts

• Al Fardan Exchange as Founding Partner

• Presight as the Industry Leader

• SENEN as ‘Powered by’ Sponsor

• Willbanah as Diamond Sponsor

• The Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation (SIEF) – Strategic China Partner  AtkinsRealis as Silver Sponsor.

• Decoding Data Science as Association Partner

• AMCHAM Dubai as Association Partner

About Dubai AI Week

Dubai AI Week, an initiative organised by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, and overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation, connects AI research with real-world applications – bringing together experts, entrepreneurs, investors, and the public and private sectors to explore AI’s vast opportunities

About Dubai AI Festival

Dubai AI Festival, part of Dubai AI Week, is held under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, UAE. Organised by Dubai AI Campus, in strategic partnership with DIFC and the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy & Remote Work Applications Office, the Festival is a leading event reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global hub for artificial intelligence innovation.

This influential platform brings together industry leaders, experts, and visionaries to explore the transformative potential of AI across sectors such as finance, healthcare, and sustainability. Attendees will engage with pioneering AI applications and cutting-edge advancements shaping the future of business and technology.

About Dubai International Financial Centre

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is one of the world’s most advanced financial centres, and the leading financial hub for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA), which comprises 77 countries with an approximate population of 3.7bn and an estimated GDP of USD 10.5trn.

With a 20-year track record of facilitating trade and investment flows across the MEASA region, the Centre connects these fast-growing markets with the economies of Asia, Europe, and the Americas through Dubai.

DIFC is home to an internationally recognised, independent regulator and a proven judicial system with an English common law framework, as well as the region’s largest financial ecosystem of 46,000 professionals working across over 6,900 active registered companies – making up the largest and most diverse pool of industry talent in the region.

The Centre’s vision is to drive the future of finance through cutting-edge technology, innovation, and partnerships. Today, it is the global future of finance and innovation hub offering one of the region’s most comprehensive FinTech and venture capital environments, including cost-effective licensing solutions, fit-for-purpose regulation, innovative accelerator programmes, and funding for growth-stage start-ups.

Comprising a variety of world-renowned retail and dining venues, a dynamic art and culture scene, residential apartments, hotels, and public spaces, DIFC continues to be one of Dubai’s most sought-after business and lifestyle destinations.

For further information, please visit our website: difc.ae, or follow us on LinkedIn and X @DIFC.

For media enquiries, please contact: 
Nivine William | Nisha Celina
Burson | bursonglobal.com
nivine.william@bursonglobal.com | nisha.celina@bursonglobal.com

Rasha Mezher | Dubai International Financial Centre Authority
Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications
rasha.mezher@difc.ae

Shadi Dawi
Sr. Director – PR, Comms., & Media
shadi@tresconglobal.com

Curetopia, a Biotech DAO, leverages decentralized science to accelerate rare disease research

Zug, Switzerland, 20th March 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, In a groundbreaking achievement, Curetopia, the first Biotech Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) built natively on the Solana blockchain, raised $1.77 million last week to scale up drug repurposing for inherited metabolic diseases through the Bio Protocol Launchpad. This milestone is driving cutting-edge research aimed at developing the first treatment for AARS2 Deficiency, a potentially fatal rare genetic disease with no approved therapies currently on the market.

Curetopia’s innovative approach empowers patients and researchers to crowdfund medical breakthroughs, emphasizing community involvement and a shared stake in the resulting advancements. Over 1,000 individual contributors participated in this $1.77 million raise, highlighting the power of community-driven science. Participants in Curetopia’s decentralized clinical trials become active stakeholders in the therapies they help to develop.

A key outcome of this effort is the identification of two drug repurposing candidates for AARS2 Deficiency, uncovered by a fully de-risked, high-throughput, yeast-powered screening process. Curetopia is filing a provisional patent for this discovery, working with two pioneer AARS2 families on launching parallel N-of-1 studies, and plans to reinvest any future proceeds into further research initiatives.

Dr. Ethan Perlstein, founder and CEO of Curetopia, stated:

“The success of Curetopia’s auction in the face of brutal market conditions speaks to the fact that rare disease communities and crypto communities are natural allies. We’ve already demonstrated with the inaugural AARS2 program that we can deliver results on a timeline and with capital efficiency that is unheard of in TradBio. Now it’s time to cook.”

Curetopia is part of the growing Decentralized Science (DeSci) movement, which has collectively raised over $15 million for research in the past three months. This influx of funding is timely, as traditional sources like the NIH and NSF face ongoing budget pressures.

Moving forward, Curetopia will develop an AI-driven, decentralized clinical trial model to address thousands of rare diseases—each representing a $150 million market opportunity based on historical sales of Priority Review Vouchers. By focusing on drug repurposing, the organization seeks to expedite regulatory processes and deliver life-changing treatments to patients more quickly.

About Curetopia

Curetopia is a non-profit association pioneering the world’s first Biotech DAO dedicated to eradicating rare diseases through decentralized science launched via the Bio Protocol launchpad. With over 10,000 rare diseases affecting 1 in 10 people worldwide, Curetopia provides patient communities with innovative tools to fund research, drive innovation, and ensure promising therapies are not abandoned.

Bio Protocol is a new financial layer for early-stage biotech, accelerating the commercialization of breakthrough research. It enables global communities—patients, researchers, and crypto users—to fund and co-own biotech innovations from day one. Backed by Binance Labs, Northpond Ventures, and 1kx, Bio has facilitated over $50M in research funding worldwide.

Texas, US, 20th March 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, Christopher Linton, a respected entrepreneur, business leader, and community advocate, has been featured in a new online interview discussing his career, leadership philosophy, and his commitment to workforce development. As the CEO of LoneStar Labor Management, Linton has played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between businesses and skilled workers, ensuring companies thrive while empowering employees with meaningful opportunities.

Originally from South Alabama, Linton’s journey from an athlete to a business leader has shaped his approach to leadership—one rooted in discipline, teamwork, and resilience. In the feature, he shares key lessons on what it takes to lead effectively, the importance of mentorship, and how businesses must adapt to evolving workforce expectations.

“Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about empowering people and creating opportunities for them to grow,” said Linton. “I’ve seen firsthand how investing in workforce development and mentorship can transform lives and businesses alike.”

Linton also highlights the challenges businesses face in retaining top talent, emphasizing that organizations must go beyond competitive salaries to create work environments that prioritize professional growth and employee engagement.

The interview explores topics such as the role of technology in workforce management, the importance of listening as a leader, and what the future holds for businesses adapting to an ever-changing job market. Linton provides practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, sharing his own experiences of overcoming challenges and learning from setbacks.

As a passionate advocate for community involvement, Linton discusses his efforts to support young professionals and student-athletes through mentorship programs. His belief in creating sustainable opportunities extends beyond business—it’s a personal mission to help shape the next generation of leaders.

“I want my legacy to be about more than just business,” Linton stated. “If I can look back and see that I’ve helped people build meaningful careers and contributed to a stronger workforce, then I’ve done something right.”

Christopher Linton’s feature offers valuable insights for business professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs, and organizations looking to navigate today’s workforce challenges. 

To read the full interview and gain expert perspectives on leadership and workforce development, visit the website here. 

Plasma Science Holds the Key to the Future of Hypersonic Flight and Energy Efficiency

Indiana, US, 20th March 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, Aerospace scientist and engineer Sergey Macheret is calling on government agencies, private investors, and research institutions to accelerate investment in plasma technology to revolutionize hypersonic flight, propulsion systems, and energy efficiency. With decades of experience in plasma physics and aerospace engineering, Macheret believes the industry is at a pivotal moment.

“Plasma science can change the way we approach high-speed flight, propulsion, and aerodynamics, but the funding and research are not moving fast enough,” said Macheret, Co-Founder and CEO of US Plasma Engineering LLC. “We need dedicated resources to develop real-world applications before other nations take the lead.”

Plasma’s Role in Hypersonic and Aerospace Innovation

Hypersonic technology—defined as flight technology for speeds of Mach 5 or greater—is transforming military, space, and commercial aviation. However, heat buildup, shockwave formation, and aerodynamic drag remain critical challenges. Plasma-based solutions offer a way forward:

• Plasma aerodynamics: Electric discharges can manipulate airflow, reducing drag, enhancing lift, and improving both stability and maneuverability for hypersonic vehicles.
• Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD): Magnetic fields interacting with ionized air could enable more efficient airbreathing propulsion.
• Plasma-assisted combustion: Plasma devices can dramatically shorten the ignition delay time, facilitate fuel-air mixing, increase flame propagation speed, and also enable stable operation in lean mixtures.

“We already have the science to control airflow and enhance propulsion through plasma fields, but we lack the funding and test facilities to make these systems commercially viable,” Macheret explained.

The Global Race in Plasma and Hypersonic Development

China and Russia have heavily invested in hypersonic vehicle technology, with China testing multiple platforms capable of sustained flight at Mach 5+ speeds. A 2023 RAND Corporation report highlighted that China conducts nearly twice as many hypersonic flight tests annually as the U.S. In the last several years, R&D funding for hypersonics has increased dramatically in the US. “However, plasma technologies for hypersonics are still underfunded, especially given the game-changing potential of these technologies.”

Funding and Collaboration Needed

Macheret is urging NASA, the Department of Defense, and private aerospace firms to allocate more funding toward plasma-based aerospace technologies. He is also advocating for a national plasma research initiative, bringing together universities, laboratories, and industry partners.

“If we want to remain leaders in aerospace technology, we must commit to developing plasma-based solutions now.”

Scholar and Filmmaker Calls for Greater Recognition of the World’s Largest Peaceful Gathering

California, US, 20th March 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, Sayed Abazar Wahedi, a respected Islamic scholar and filmmaker, is raising awareness about the Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the world. Through his work with Beacon of Guidance, Wahedi is documenting the spiritual and humanitarian impact of Arbaeen, advocating for its global recognition as a symbol of unity, justice, and resilience.

Each year, over 20 million people from across the world embark on this pilgrimage to Karbala, Iraq, to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS). Despite its scale, Arbaeen remains largely underreported in mainstream media. Wahedi is committed to changing that narrative.

“Arbaeen is more than a religious event,” Wahedi explains. “It is a movement of peace, sacrifice, and solidarity that transcends race, nationality, and sectarian divides.”

Bringing the Arbaeen Story to the World

Through documentary filmmaking, Wahedi captures the human stories behind the pilgrimage—stories of individuals walking hundreds of miles, volunteers providing free food, shelter, and medical aid, and communities coming together in unprecedented acts of service and generosity.

According to Wahedi, media coverage of large-scale religious gatherings like Hajj is extensive, yet Arbaeen—despite being significantly larger—remains virtually invisible in global discourse.

“People should know about this pilgrimage,” he says. “It is the single largest annual peaceful gathering in the world, yet most news outlets don’t cover it. Why? It’s time to change that.”

A Call for Media, Researchers, and Communities to Take Action

Wahedi urges media organizations, academics, and humanitarian groups to document and study Arbaeen, emphasizing its potential as a case study in mass mobilization, interfaith cooperation, and selfless service.

• 20+ million participants from over 40 countries attend each year.

• More than 8,000 free service stations (mawakib) provide food, shelter, and medical aid, funded by volunteers.

• Zero recorded incidents of violence, making it one of the safest large-scale public gatherings.

“If the world truly wants to understand unity and selflessness, it should look at Arbaeen,” Wahedi says. “Millions walk, not for personal gain, but for a shared belief in justice and compassion.”

How to Support the Cause

Wahedi is actively working on documentaries and media projects to bring awareness to the pilgrimage. He encourages journalists, scholars, and religious organizations to help share the message.

For interviews, collaborations, or media inquiries, visit sayedabazarwahedi.com or contact Beacon of Guidance at beaconofguidance.com.

About Sayed Abazar Wahedi

Sayed Abazar Wahedi is a resident Alim at the Islamic Center of Fatimiyyah in Hayward, CA, a Quran teacher, and an award-winning reciter. With a background in Islamic scholarship and filmmaking, he bridges faith and media to educate and inspire global audiences.

London, UK, 20th March 2025, ZEX PR WIRE, ReachOwl LTD is excited to announce a major transformation of its platform, shifting from a Chrome extension to a fully cloud-based web application. This upgrade brings seamless automation to Facebook and Instagram outreach, eliminating the need for users to keep their devices online while running powerful engagement campaigns effortlessly.

With this transition, the ReachOwl Chrome extension will become obsolete, and it will eventually be discontinued. Users can now take full advantage of the cloud-based platform, which offers far greater scalability, efficiency, and automation than the previous local processing method.

Game-Changing Automation for Facebook and Instagram Growth

ReachOwl’s cloud-based system enables businesses, marketers, and agencies to execute large-scale outreach campaigns with ease. The new features include:

1. Direct messages to:

   ✅ Members of specific Facebook groups (with or without admins)
   ✅ Friends of a selected Facebook profile
   ✅ Audiences engaging with Facebook ads and videos
   ✅ Followers and followings of Instagram influencers
   ✅ Custom profile lists for both Facebook and Instagram

2. Friend and follow requests, with the ability to combine friend requests with DM campaigns for enhanced engagement.
3. Cloud-based account connection system, allowing users to connect multiple Facebook and Instagram accounts and manage all outreach from a single dashboard.
4. Keyword monitoring on Quora and Reddit, enabling users to track relevant discussions and engage in high-intent conversations.
5. Built-in CRM, providing a centralized database to view, filter, and export contacts, making it easier than ever to organize and scale outreach efforts.
6. Post scheduling for Facebook, allowing users to plan and automate posts across 100+ Facebook groups simultaneously.

Why This Update is a Game-Changer

Traditional outreach tools required users to keep their computers running and maintain an active connection to their social media accounts. With ReachOwl’s cloud-based system, campaigns

now run automatically—freeing users from manual efforts and making scaling outreach more efficient than ever.

“This update marks a significant milestone for ReachOwl and our users,” said Usama Noman, Founder of ReachOwl LTD. “By transitioning to a cloud-based platform, we’re offering a faster, more scalable, and fully automated solution. Our Chrome extension will soon be phased out, as this new system provides a vastly superior experience.”

Built for Growth, Designed for Simplicity

ReachOwl’s intuitive dashboard streamlines the entire outreach process, allowing users to:

• Run multiple simultaneous DM campaigns with different targeting methods
• Manage multiple Facebook and Instagram accounts under one platform
• Track campaign performance and refine strategies with built-in analytics
• Automate engagement and lead generation without manual intervention

About ReachOwl

ReachOwl LTD, based in the United Kingdom, is a cutting-edge social media automation platform designed to help businesses scale their outreach efforts effortlessly. The latest

cloud-based transition allows users to maximize their social media presence while focusing on growth and engagement.

For more details, visit ReachOwl.com.

Connect with Usama Noman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/usamanoman.